I'm newly engaged and so overwhelmed! A friend told me about this site and said this is the best help I'll ever get. So here I am! :)
I am about to embark upon looking at halls so my fiance and I can set a date and get moving! Does anyone have a list of what questions you asked when speaking with the different places?
All I know to ask right now is what dates do you have available and how many weddings are conducted at the same time? (Can you tell how new to this I am?)
Is there something I should absolutely be asking that might not be obvious or that I'm overlooking? Should I be asking anything when I call to set up the appointments?
What about tasting the food? Will places let you do that before you book?
Yikes! Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance for dealing with them all! I'm looking forward to chatting with all of you!
SMDC2012
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Re: Reception Halls - What to ask?
Congrats on your engagement and welcome to the boards!!
Questions you should ask are what is the minimum amount of people you need. You and your FH should come up with a tentative guest list so you have an idea of how many people you will be inviting. A lot of places need you to guarantee a certain amount to book with them (some might want a guarantee of 150 and other only 100). This will also help you narrow down where you can have it. We originally were going to look at a place but found out their min was 150 which we weren't going to even be close to and they wouldn't budge either so they were ruled out.
Also, ask if the cake is included, if not its an extra cost to you.
Ask if you can use outside vendors or if you have to use their vendors for things.
Also, they will always negotiate with you so don't settle for what price they tell you.
As for tastings before you book, we thought that was very critical. In my opinion, unless I had been to a wedding there before, I would never book somewhere without doing a tasting. Our RH and the others that we visited said that was not a problem.
Thats all I can think of off the top of my head.
Good Luck with your search, its stressful but a ton of fun!
First of all welcome & congrats. We were all in your shoes not to long ago, before you know it you will be a pro :)
1. Does anyone have a list of what questions you asked when speaking with the different places?
Here is a list of questions that I gathered from the ladies here. It's not a complete list but it helped me with my meetings: Food: Tasting Before you Book or After? Pictures of Cake How many beer choices and what are they? How do they handle special food requests Vegetarian Choice Kids Meals – ages? What is “top shelf” What are venders served? How long has your chef been with you?
Room: Room Capacity? Types of table – round, oval? # of People Per Table? Where the Band/DJ will be set up? How many servers/bussers per table? How many bar tenders? Do they allow open flame for candles?
Price: Seasonal Prices? What is included in the price per head? Is gratuity added on after the tax is added? And, does that include all gratuities (usually Banquet Manager and Bridal Attendant must be paid separately the day of) If not, recommended gratuity? Is cake included Do you include direction cards, table cards or printed menus? Are chair covers included? Kids Meal Prices Vender Meal Prices Who counts towards minimum? Bride/Groom? Venders? Kids? Payments? Forms of Payment accepted? Cancellation Policy? What happens if minimum isn’t met? Final count – when?
Reception: Availability? How early can bridal party arrive? How early can guests arrive? Who determines the order and the flow of the reception “House venders”? How many receptions at once? Do your guests have access to the whole site throughout the affair or are they asked to stay in the required areas? Can you check out the ball room when there is a wedding going on? Is there a bridal attendant? Who is the banquet manager? Are there bathroom attendants? In the event of a power outage...do you have a generator? What are the closest hotels? Do they offer shuttle service to the RH (reception hall) Will they put things together/out if I provide? Available locations for photo? Any décor for cocktail hour? Any décor for reception hall?
Should I be asking anything when I call to set up the appointments?
I just called and said I would like to make an appt to see the hall for my upcoming wedding. I remember my first call I was so nervous. Wouldn't you know that is the hall I ended up booking!
What about tasting the food? Will places let you do that before you book? This I'm not sure. I know my tasting is 2 months prior to the wedding. However, there is a restaurant there and I have had the food serveral times plus I was to the RH for a few events.
I was so nervous in the begining but now as time passes it becomes easier and I am enjoying the process. We are all here to help!
Grasshopper
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Re: Reception Halls - What to ask?
Wow, thank you all SO much! What great lists! I'm going to start reviewing everything this weekend so I can start making calls on Monday. Yay!
nyrvixen
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Re: Reception Halls - What to ask?
If you don't have a certain date in mind then keep in mind that some months and days are cheaper than others.
JulesMarie27
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Re: Reception Halls - What to ask?
We are in the process of booking a place - did you bring a list of questions with you to ask when you signed the contract? (is that weird LOL) I asked some of these questions today, but clearly forgot 1/2 of them....
BobbyDsgirl
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Re: Reception Halls - What to ask?
Good luck figuring everything out!
PaddysGirl
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Re: Reception Halls - What to ask?
Posted by JulesMarie27
We are in the process of booking a place - did you bring a list of questions with you to ask when you signed the contract? (is that weird LOL) I asked some of these questions today, but clearly forgot 1/2 of them....
I kept my most important questions in the front of my mind. I also brought a notebook with me. We went back a week later, asked a few more questions, and then booked.
